Feb. 23, 2006
Box Score
NATCHITOCHES, La. - Senior Nashid Beard scored a career-high 19 points, but it was not enough as Lamar University lost 80-67 at Northwestern State Thursday night in Southland Conference men's basketball action at Prather Coliseum.
Lamar dropped to 14-12 overall and 7-6 in SLC play. The Cardinals dropped into a tie for fourth-place in the league standings with idle Southeastern Louisiana. Lamar has lost three straight games and five of its last seven.
Northwestern State improved to 19-7 overall and 12-1 in SLC play. The Demons, who have won nine straight league games, captured at least a share of the SLC regular season title for the second straight year.
Beard's jumper at 14:50 put Lamar up 10-8. The Demons responded with a 12-0 run to take a 20-10 lead on a free throw by Kerwin Forges. Blake Whittle's three-pointer cut the lead to eight, 23-15, with 9:56 remaining in the opening stanza. NSU responded with an 8-0 run to push its lead to 16, 31-15, on a dunk by Clifton Lee at 8:16.
Tyronn Mitchell hit a three-pointer as the first half buzzer sounded to give the Demons a 46-29 halftime lead. Both teams shot 48 percent from the field, but NSU made 18 field goals compared to Lamar's 12.
Lamar made a run in the second half, closing to within seven, 70-63, on a Jason Grant three point play with 3:32 remaining in the game. Brandon McThay's two free throws at 2:54 again pulled the Cardinals within seven at 72-65.
Jermaine Spencer tipped in his own missed shot and Jermaine Wallace made a layup to extend NSU's lead back to 11, 76-65, with 44 seconds remaining in the game. Keenan Jones and Luke Rogers both made a pair of free throws in the final 20 seconds to make the final score 80-67.
Beard was 8 of 11 from the field and 3 of 5 from the free throw line in scoring his career-high 19 points. He also grabbed six rebounds and blocked a shot. Brandon Chappell added nine points. Josh Goodwin came off the bench to score eight points and grab seven rebounds.
Lamar shot 42.1 percent from the field, 26.7 percent from three-point range and 60 percent from the free throw line.
Wallace led four players in double-figures with 16 points for the Demons. Spencer came off the bench to score 14 points and grab nine rebounds. Rogers added 12 points. Lee recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
NSU shot 46 percent from the field, 45 percent from 3-point range and 65 percent from the free throw line. The Demons outscored Lamar 23 to eight in points off turnovers and 38 to 32 in points in the paint.
